A Closer Look at the Lamborghini Centenario

It’s been a week since Lamborghini pulled the covers off the Centenario LP 770-4, the new name for the highly limited, cutting-edge design and performance car from Lamborghini. I reckon it’s about time we delve into the details of this creature.

Exterior

The Centenario doesn’t really look like any other Lamborghini, although it is recognizable as a Lamborghini shape. I’m still struggling to find out which classic models have influenced the design of the Centenario. There could be hints of Miura and Diablo, but the Centenario is taking Lamborghini to new design territories. Add to that the fact that Mitja Borkert just took over as Head of Design at Centro Stile Lamborghini, and the future of Lamborghini design is hard to predict, but in a good way.

The front incorporates two large air ducts that increase front downforce and also air flow over the rear wing. The headlamps have been shaped to guide the air past the front wheels and along the side of the car to end up in the radiators in the rear. Speaking of lights, the rear lights are shaped to allow free flow of hot air escaping from the engine bay. The text “Lamborghini Light Design” are to be seen on both the front and rear lights, and it appears Lamborghini have given increased attention to the practical use of lights as part of the aerodynamics of the car.

The wheels have specially designed spokes that fan air into the brakes, also increasing suction on the rear diffuser. The rear diffuser itself causes improved downforce and traction, as well as cooling of the exhaust system.

To increase efficiency, the rear wing has a double profile, and the wing is also hydraulically adjustable in three settings, automatically adapting to driving mode and dynamic condition. The wing can also be manually adjusted from the inside.

Chassis

There are three major aspects to the chassis that need mentioning: Lamborghini Dynamic Steering, magneto-rheological dampers and four wheel steering. The first has already been in use for a few years, but has been improved for use on the Centenario, and automatically adjusts the steering ratio based on speed and driving mode. The mag-rheo dampers allow for extremely quick damper adjustments, maximizing road holding and driving feel.

The novelty here is the four wheel steering system, which transforms this rather big car into an agile and responsive one. The steering of the rear wheels vary with speed and dynamic mode, but at low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction as the front wheels to reduce turning circle and increase maneuverability. At high speeds, though, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels. This virtual increase of wheelbase adds stability and improves vehicle response.

Engine

The V-12 engine found in the Aventador has been fiddled with, and power is up to 770 horsepower at 8,500 rpm. It features variable valve timing and variable intake system and, of course, follows the Lamborghini tradition of naturally aspirated engines.

Multimedia

This section wouldn’t be here on a Lamborghini from the olden days, but is now a vital part of the experience of driving the car. The center console of the Centenario houses a 10.1-inch screen which gives access to a multitude of functions and possibilities, such as navigation, web radio, multimedia player, web browser, telemetry and car info, to mention some. Most of these are already known features in most new or high-end cars, but I wish to look closer at the telemetry part.

The telemetry functionality in the Centenario has three main features:

Race on the track: This gives you a 3D map with GPS position during the race, and allows you to record lap times, and even track section times. It will give you gear suggestions as you approach turns, and will also allow you to record with one or both of the installed video cameras, which stores the video in the internal data storage

Race analysis: CAN data collected during the race can be analyzed on graph, lap by lap

This functionality should be heaps of fun during the race, and viewing the videos on the center console screen afterwards is just too much fun! Too bad the Centenario doesn’t come with its own projector – drive-in cinema, anyone?

The car info option gives access to numerous read-outs during driving, such as front/rear torque distribution, aerodynamic load front and rear, suspension position and rear spoiler position. The Centenario, of course, comes with the gadget above all gadgets, namely the G reader.

Pricing and options

One would perhaps expect a long list of options for such a unique car, but there really aren’t that many. With a base price of 1.75 mill Euro for the coupe and two mill Euro for the roadster, most options can be thrown in for free. you can of course also specify anything you want to be added to your car, and Lamborghini will see what they can do.

Lastly, a few numbers and specifications to round it all off. The Centenario sits on Pirelli P0 wheels – 255/30 ZR20 front and 355/25 ZR21 rear. The four wheels are powered through a 7-speed ISR box, which can propel the car to a top speed of more than 350 km/h. These are the numbers you need to remember; the acceleration times:

0 – 100 km/h: 2,8 sec

0 – 200 km/h: 8,6 sec

0 – 300 km/h: 23,5 sec

If you missed anything in this article, please let me know in the comment area below. I’m glad you took the time to read through it!